Gori has been charged with sexual harassment of at least two female authority employees, including Lynn Pietrouchie.

In a state Civil Service appeal, Gori claimed that McCarthy and Pietrouchie traded real estate information during authority working hours and that McCarthy "has played an active part in the disciplinary action against me to cover up this activity and stop me from exposing this wrongdoing."

The board has yet to agree on the disciplinary action to be taken against Gori. However, McCarthy has supported firing Gori because of management deficiencies.

Yesterday, McCarthy, reading from a prepared statement, said, "I do not personally agree" there is a conflict, and that was the reason McCarthy announced at the Nov. 9 meeting that he had a business relationship with Pietrouchie.

McCarthy also said said he saw a complete copy of the results of theinternal investigation, which included complainants' names, and that led him to take this stance on the charges. "Were they (the women who complained) all against Mr. Gori? I doubt it."

But there could appear to be a conflict and, because he probably will be involved in an appeal and other litigation related to the charges, he "will abstain from voting," McCarthy said.

McCarthy said that, in a Dec. 10 letter to authority Chairman Joseph Albanese, he stated there was a need for a third-party review of the situation.

Authority member Dolores Caskey agreed. She said it was her understanding that several other groups would also review the case, such as the state Civil Service and Human Relations commissions.

"I have no problems with the that (third-party review) at all," she said.

So far, Gori has served a two-week suspension, had his office moved from Main Street to the authority warehouse off Pembroke Road and had his duties reduced. Yesterday, Albanese, Caskey and the Rev. Frank Flisser voted to ratify the actions. McCarthy abstained. Commissioner Daniel Harrigan was out of town because of a death in his family and did not attend.

Caskey pointed out that this vote was not the final discipline for Gori, but she would "support it as a matter of procedure."

The board has failed in three previous attempts to arrive at a final form of discipline for the 26-year employee. Additional discipline proposed includes a one-year probationary period, forfeiture of salary increases for one year, reassignment of duties and attendance at a management training program.

Gori and his attorney, Ronald Clever of Allentown, attended yesterday's meeting but did not speak.

The board did authorize Executive Director Frank V. Loretti to expand Gori's duties and make themmore compatible with his salary, but Gori's office will remain at the warehouse. Loretti said the board has directed him to do so and requested that it be kept that way.

In other business, Loretti introduced steps for federal de-control of the authority. If the authority is able to meet the de-control criteria, such as having operating expenses that are less than or equal to income, it will be under less government control, Loretti said.